Histopathological examination is one of the chief investigations done for better diagnosis. The tissue has to undergo a series of steps called tissue processing. The initial and significant action is fixation. Proper fixation is one of the prime factors while considering histopathology. Formalin has been used as a fixative over many years. Recent studies proved that formalin causes irritation and is carcinogenic. So we have to switch over to another feasible alternative which is non-hazardous and eco- friendly. Since honey has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, studies proved that it could be a fixative. Likewise, jaggery local anaesthetics can be used as a fixative. Under this topic, we will be seeing all the basic principles of fixation, ideal fixative, the side effects of formalin, the things that serve as alternatives as a fixative and how they fix the tissues.
[1] Eltoum I, Fredenburgh J, Myers RB, Grizzle WE. Introduction to the theory and practice of fixation of tissues. J Histotechnol [Internet]. 2001;24(3):173–90. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/his.2001.24.3.173
[2] Singh A, Hunasgi S, Koneru A, Vanishree M, Ramalu S, Manvikar V. Comparison of honey with ethanol as an oral cytological fixative: A pilot study. J Cytol [Internet]. 2015;32(2):113–7. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0970-9371.160563
[3] .Sabarinath B, Sivapathasundharam B, Sathyakumar M. Fixative properties of honey in comparison with formalin. J Histotechnol [Internet]. 2014;37(1):21–5. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/2046023613y.0000000037
[4] Pandiar D, Baranwal HC, Kumar S, Ganesan V, Sonkar PK, Chattopadhyay K. Use of jaggery and honey as adjunctive cytological fixatives to ethanol for oral smears. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol [Internet]. 2017;21(2):317. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_224_15
[5] M. S, S. P. A comparative study on the efficacy of honey and ethanol as cytological fixatives. Int J Adv Med [Internet]. 2017;4(3):762. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2349- 3933.ijam20172268560-=-09r2367890=\0-985432daxvc
[6] Comparison of efficacy of local anesthetic solution, distilled water and normal saline as emergency fixativesSowmya KasettyDhara Dwivedi[...]Nitin Prabhakar. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (2018). DOI:10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_189_16. ISSN: 1998393X
[7] Fixation and Fixatives – Factors influencing chemical fixation, formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde Author: Geoffrey Rolls edited by Hiram 3-25-18
[8] Tissue Fixatives: A ReviewRadhika Rai, Amit Bhardwaj, Shalu Verma. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS & DRUG ANALYSIS. VOL.4 ISSUE 4, 2016; 183 - 187 ; http://ijpda.com; ISSN: 2348-8948
[9] M. Blackwell, H. Kang, P. Infante. Formaldehyde: evidence of carcinogenicity. American Industrial Hygiene Association journal. 1981
[10]. Singh H, Bishen KA, Garg D, Sukhija H, Sharma D, Tomar U. Fixation and fixatives: roles and functions—a short review. Dental Journal of Advance Studies. 2019 Aug;7(02):051-5
